The state Board of Education voted Wednesday to give a pass to school districts that fail to meet requirements for student participation on state-mandated tests, another attempt to chip away at Colorado’s involvement in a multistate testing effort.
But it is unclear whether the board’s move will have a significant impact — or how the federal government will respond.
The board delayed action on requests from 19 school districts for waivers from the first half of new math and English tests beginning next month.
After the board voted in January to allow the waivers, a state attorney general opinion stated that the board and state Department of Education lack the authority to issue them.
Republican board member Steve Durham countered with the proposal not to hold districts accountable if not enough students take the tests.
Districts and schools face consequences if participation dips below 95 percent. Districts could see a lowering of accreditation and other sanctions, and schools may be given improvement plans.
Removing those penalties may lead to more students sitting out the tests.
Keith Owen, a deputy education commissioner, warned the board that the motion would require the state to go to the U.S. Department of Education to try to amend its current agreement keeping Colorado in compliance with federal education law.
That agreement — a waiver to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, or No Child Left Behind — is due to expire. The state is to submit a renewal request by the end of March.
Durham argued the only potential consequence for failing to hit participation marks is the federal government withholding funds to the state, a threat he doesn’t believe would be carried out.
“Is it a risk I am willing to take? The answer is yes,” Durham said. “Do I think it’s a significant risk? The answer is no.”
The board voted 4-2 to direct the state education department to hold districts “harmless” if parents refuse to allow their children to take assessments. Last fall, thousands of Colorado high school seniors sat out required social studies tests.
Republicans Durham, Pam Mazanec and Debora Scheffel were joined by Democrat Valentina Flores voting yes. Democrats Jane Goff and Angelika Schroeder voted no.
The 19 districts that sought waivers from tests through the multistate consortium Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC, total about 119,000 students, or 20 percent of the state’s students, officials said.
Two of the state’s largest districts, Jefferson County Public Schools and Douglas County School District, asked for waivers.
Syna Morgan, Jefferson County’s chief academic officer, said the district would “welcome the relief” offered by the board’s motion. She said the district will move forward with PARCC tests and inform parents that it’s up to them whether their children take them.
Morgan called it “a balancing act between supporting the rights of our parents and protecting our schools and educators from unintended accountability consequences.”
Eric Gorski: 303-954-1971, egorski@denverpost.com or twitter.com/egorski
